Natural Fiber Chairs

A beautiful original antique Victorian rocking chair, this was made in England and dates from around the 1860-1880 period. It is ver...

We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely very rare near pair of William Morris Rush seat Sussex chairs circa 1870-1880 as seen in the Victorian and Albert museum The History This chair was named after a country chair found in Sussex, which inspired the design with the turned frame and rush seat. Similar types of chairs, with imitation bamboo frames and rush seats, were fashionable between 1790 and 1820. Ownership & Use William Morris and his wife, Jane, used Sussex chairs in their first home, Red House, Bexleyheath, Kent, from 1860 and subsequently in their London house, Kelmscott House, Hammersmith. Morris's great friend, the artist Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898) had Sussex armchairs in his studio, as did the sculptor, Alfred Gilbert (1854-1934). Robert Edis recommended this chair as 'excellent, comfortable and artistic' in his influential book, 'Decoration and Furnishing of Town Houses in 1881'. Examples from the Sussex range were supplied for students' rooms at Newnham College...

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely pair of William Morris Rush seat Sussex chairs circa 1870-1880 as seen in the Victorian and Albert museum Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide, it covers within the M25 only for the UK and local Europe only for international, if you would like an accurate quote please send me your postcode and I’ll provide you with the exact price The History This chair was named after a country chair found in Sussex, which inspired the design with the turned frame and rush seat. Similar types of chairs, with imitation bamboo frames and rush seats, were fashionable between 1790 and 1820. Ownership & Use William Morris and his wife, Jane, used Sussex chairs in their first home, Red House, Bexleyheath, Kent, from 1860 and subsequently in their London house, Kelmscott House, Hammersmith. Morris's great friend, the artist Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898) had Sussex armchairs in his studio, as did the sculptor, Alfred Gilbert (1854-1934). Robert Edis recommended this chair as 'excellent, comfortable and artistic' in his influential book, 'Decoration and Furnishing of Town Houses in 1881'. Examples from the Sussex range were supplied for students' rooms at Newnham College...

Set of 4 late Victorian side chairs. Made from oak with a contoured ladderback and cane seat. Measures: 20" x 17" x 33.5" / Seat Height - 17.5" (Width x Depth x Height).

This special antique Victorian white wicker chair is possibly from the end of the 19th century. It has an elaborate designed panel through the back ...

Antique Victorian pressed back oak stroller convertible to a high chair, with metal wheels, cane seat, and flip up tray. Stroller - 34” x 16.75” x 31.5” / Seat Height - 12.5” / Hi...

Pair of mid-century, Victorian style, tall, woven, wicker, porter's chairs feauture hooded coverings with "windows" and interior armrests on the sides. Perfect covered environments f...

Stunning and rare Victorian knitting chair. Striking Dutch design from the 1880s. Solid cherrywood frame with original brass casters on the front legs...

Mid 19th century bentwood slat back Tiger maple rush seat yellow paint dining chairs. Details: Woven rush seats, with old yellow paint, solid wood frame, very nice antique item, qu...

"Antique Victorian boardwalk wheel chair / stroller / carriage. Made of wicker featuring rounded arms with ball and stick accents and rattan seat. Today a wheelchair is defined as a chair used by a person who has difficulty walking because of sickness, injury, or disability. Wheelchairs come in a wide variety of styles for the specific needs of the user. However, finding the history of wheelchairs has been difficult. Only one book was found that was solely on wheelchairs, The Wheelchair Book by Herman Kametz, published in 1969. The first American patent for a wheelchair was issued in 1869, and Kametz claimed wheelchairs did not exist before that time. But a search revealed many pictures of chairs on wheels for various infirmities and uses. Finally, the mystery was solved by finding that such appliances existed but by several other names. They were called invalid chairs, movable chairs, couches, garden chairs, and even go-chairs. In the middle of the 19th century, they were usually called invalid chairs. Early attempts at mobility for the infirm can be traced to antiquity. An ancient Greek vase exists with the picture of a child’s bed on rollers, so it could be moved outside for fresh air. A Chinese sarcophagus from about 1300 BC shows perhaps the earliest evidence of a chair on wheels. These innovations helped lessen the isolation of the infirm. The theory that fresh air was beneficial apparently started early in our history. Spoked wheels on chariots may be the oldest form of “wheeled chairs.” The Crusaders brought the wheeled cart or wheelbarrow back to Europe in the 12th century. The wheelbarrow could carry any load and could transport invalids to the baths and spas. Today it is used primarily for gardening and construction rather than mobility. In 1531 a heavy armchair on rollers was used in bloodletting as a treatment chair. The patient’s feet were on a low stool and the chair had an upholstered back and seat for comfort. This chair is perhaps a forerunner of chairs for treatments in hospitals today. Hans Weiditz in his book, Loberra de Vanquete had a woodcut of this item. Chairs on wheels are noted in Europe in the 16th century. King Philip of Spain became incapacitated by gout and arthritis as he grew older; in 1595 a servant made a chair for his master’s comfort. This chair had metal bars with notches to adjust the back, as well as leg rests to make the king comfortable, and the chair moved on four small wheels. In 1655 in Germany, a 23-year-old paraplegic watchmaker, tired of his immobility, used his watchmaker skills to construct a vehicle on wheels. This was a box on three wheels with the single front wheel used for steering. He pedaled the wheel with a hand crank using a tooth-geared drive. This vehicle looked very much like a modern soap-box derby car. Sir Thomas Fairfax...

Early 1900s Heywood Wakefield Rocking chair. Features a wood frame wrapped in wicker with a rattan seat. Includes scrolled and twisted ...

19th century fancy Victorian wicker chair. These ornate examples were often used as props for photography studios. Attributed to Heywood Brosthe...